Bilge cleaner dispenser

Abstract

A bilge cleaner dispenser and method of dispensing liquid bilge cleaner is provided that continuously dispenses a preselected amount of bilge cleaner over time into a bilge. A flow regulator is attached to the standard external threads of the mouth opening of a conventional container of bilge cleaner such that when the container is turned in an orientation that allows liquid flow by gravity, the liquid bilge cleaner drips out of the flow regulator into the bilge at a predetermined rate over time. The conventional container of liquid bilge cleaner is removably attached to a rigid support member. The support member is attachable to a rigid frame such as a suitable location of a boat, and maintains the container of bilge cleaner in an orientation such that the bilge cleaner drips out of the flow regulator directly into the boat's bilge at a predetermined rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid bilge cleaner dispenser comprising: a substantially rigid support member mounted to a rigid frame;   a container fastener;   a liquid bilge cleaner container removably mounted to said support member by said fastener, wherein said container includes a wall portion forming a mouth, said mouth forming wall portion having exterior threads;   a liquid bilge cleaning flow regulator for dispensing a predetermined amount of said bilge cleaner wherein said flow regulator is attached to said mouth of said container;   said support member retains said container in an orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth; and   wherein said flow regulator dispenses said predetermined amount of bilge cleaner without squeezing or applying pressure to said container.   
     
     
       2. A liquid bilge cleaner dispenser comprising: a substantially rigid support member mounted to a rigid frame;   a container fastener;   a liquid bilge cleaner container removably mounted to said support member by said fastener, wherein said container includes a wall portion forming a mouth, said mouth forming wall portion having exterior threads;   a liquid bilge cleaning flow regulator for dispensing a predetermined amount of said bilge cleaner wherein said flow regulator is attached to said mouth of said container;   said support member retains said container in an orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth;   said container further comprises a handle defining a hollow opening and said container fastener comprises: a removable strap encircling said container and said support member; and   a bendable tab member extending from said support member and protruding through said hollow opening thereby securing said container to said support member.     
     
     
       3. A liquid bilge cleaner dispenser comprising: a substantially rigid support member mounted to a rigid frame;   a container fastener;   a liquid bilge cleaner container removably mounted to said support member by said fastener, wherein said container includes a wall portion forming a mouth, said mouth forming wall portion having exterior threads;   a liquid bilge cleaning flow regulator for dispensing a predetermined amount of said binge cleaner wherein said flow regulator is attached to said mouth of said container; and   said support member retains said container in an orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth;   said liquid bilge cleaner flow regulator comprises: a first member with internal threads for mounting on said exterior threads of said mouth forming wall portion and an external threaded portion; and   a second member with internal threads sized to mate with said external threaded portion of said first member.     
     
     
       4. The liquid bilge cleaner of claim 3 further comprising: a disc shaped filter;   a disc shaped seal having a first central aperture wherein said filter and said seal are disposed between said mouth of said container and said first member; and   said first central aperture is sized to provide passage therethrough of a preselected amount of said liquid bilge cleaner when said container is disposed in an orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth.   
     
     
       5. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 4 wherein said second member includes a second central aperture having a diameter substantially equal in size to said first central aperture. 
     
     
       6. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 5 wherein said first central aperture has a diameter of approximately 2 mm. 
     
     
       7. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a nipple protruding from said container to direct said bilge cleaner as said bilge cleaner is dispensed from said container. 
     
     
       8. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 4 further comprising a packing member disposed between said first member and said second member to produce a continuous drip rate of said bilge cleaner from said container when said container is disposed in an orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth. 
     
     
       9. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 8 wherein said continuous drip rate is approximately 2 to 4 drops per minute when said container is disposed in orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth. 
     
     
       10. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 7 further comprising an elongated flexible tubing affixed to said nipple to direct said bilge cleaner into bilge such that said support member and said container can be positioned in a convenient location. 
     
     
       11. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 8 wherein said second member is rotatable with respect to said first member, to allow a user to adjust the amount of said bilge cleaner that can be dispensed from said container. 
     
     
       12. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 11 wherein said amount of bilge cleaner dispensed from said container is controlled by said first and second central apertures and by pressure applied to said packing member by adjustment of said first and second members. 
     
     
       13. A liquid bilge cleaner dispenser comprising: a substantially rigid support member mounted to a rigid frame;   a liquid bilge cleaner container having a handle defining a hollow opening;   a container fastener comprising a removable strap encircling said container and said support member, and a bendable tab member extending from said support member and protruding through said hollow opening thereby securing said container to said support member;   said support member retains said container in an orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth;   said container is removably mounted to said support member by said fastener wherein said container further includes a wall portion forming a mouth, said mouth forming wall portion having exterior threads;   a disc shaped filter;   a disc shaped seal having a first central aperture having a diameter of approximately 2 mm wherein said filter and said seal are disposed between said mouth of said container and said first member;   said first central aperture is sized to provide passage therethrough of a preselected amount of said bilge cleaner when said container is disposed in an orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth;   a liquid bilge cleaner flow regulator for dispensing a predetermined amount of said bilge cleaner wherein said flow regulator is attached to said mouth of said container, said flow regulator comprises a first member with internal threads for mounting on said exterior threads of said mouth forming wall portion and an external threaded portion, and a second member with internal threads sized to mate with said external threaded portion of said first member wherein said second member further includes a second central aperture having a diameter substantially equal in size to said first central aperture;   a nipple protruding from said container to direct said bilge cleaner as said bilge cleaner is dispensed from said container;   a packing member disposed between said first member and said second member to produce a continuous drip rate of said bilge cleaner from said container when said container is disposed in an orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth, wherein said continuous drip rate is approximately 2 to 4 drops per minute;   an elongated flexible tubing affixed to said nipple to direct said bilge cleaner into bilge such that said support member and said container can be positioned in a convenient location; and   said second member is rotatable with respect to said first member to allow a user to adjust the amount of said bilge cleaner that can be dispensed from said container wherein said amount of bilge cleaner dispensed from said container is controlled by said first and second central apertures and by pressure applied to said packing member by adjustment of said first and second members.   
     
     
       14. A method for dispensing bilge cleaner comprising the steps of: filling a container with a liquid bilge cleaner wherein said container includes at least one opening for recovery or dispensing of said liquid bilge cleaner;   mounting said container to a substantially rigid support member with said container opening facing downwardly;   attaching an adjustable liquid drip flow control dispenser to said container opening wherein said control dispenser comprises a first member in mating relationship with a second member and wherein said bilge cleaner liquid flows through a central aperture situated within a disc shaped seal disposed between said container opening and said first member; and   adjusting the amount of said liquid bilge cleaner that can be dispensed from said container to a predetermined number of drops per unit time.   
     
     
       15. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 3 further comprising a packing member disposed between said first member and said second member to produce a continuous drip rate of said bilge cleaner from said container when said container is disposed in an orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth. 
     
     
       16. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 15 wherein said continuous drip rate is approximately 2 to 4 drops per minute when said container is disposed in orientation to allow liquid flow by gravity from said container mouth. 
     
     
       17. The liquid bilge cleaner dispenser of claim 15 wherein said second member is rotatable with respect to said first member, to allow a user to adjust the amount of said bilge cleaner that can be dispensed from said container.